‘Explosive growth’ in number of students coming to Canada from India: report

THERE has been an “explosive growth” in the number of students coming to Canada from India, says a report from one of Canada’s immigration program managers, reports Lexbase, the leading immigration publication by well-known lawyer Richard Kurland.

The report states: “A number of internal and external factors have combined to ignite an explosion in student intake numbers over the last two years and there is no plateau in sight for 2017.”

It notes that there are two significant market drivers: the demands from a burgeoning post-secondary Indian school population for access to education – a gap which cannot be filled by domestic supply – and the access to the Canadian labour market and a potential pathway to citizenship afforded to student status holders in Canada.

However, the report points out bluntly: “Although the lure of temporary work abroad and potential permanent status in Canada accounts for much of the growth in the student movement it has not necessarily best served the objective of attracting applicants principally motivated by academic achievement.”

It adds: “An established Indian academic record and capable English or French language skills have proven over time to be an accurate gauge of likely academic success in Canada. Growth has been largest in the SPP [Student Partners Program] but this has also been accompanied by declining acceptance rates, increases in program integrity concerns and a level of administrative overhead that has been somewhat overtaken by initiatives such as the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) regime.”

The report states: “A priority for the coming year will be to encourage schools and recruiters in the Indian market to focus on higher quality students with a greater potential to become successful permanent residents in the longer term, consistent with changes to the Express Entry regime.”

It adds: “The Indian network is undertaking a review and redesign of the Student Partner’s Program, with a greater emphasis on higher quality applicants, with better prospects of qualifying for Permanent Residence after completion of their studies in Canada.”

New Delhi now Hardship Level 5 post

An Immigration Program Manager notes: “As of February 2017 New Delhi has been re-classified as a Hardship Level V post. As the world’s most polluted city with increasingly frequent international media attention on long term risks to health from chronic exposure to PM2.5 micro particulate matter, as well as on sexual assault / rape of expats, existing and prospective CBS [Canada based staff] and dependents are wary of the health and safety risks.”